A devil, but a humorous devil, she thought.
‘I shouldn’t do that if I were you,’ he advised, facing Mary full on. ‘She has a heart of stone and a brain of ice. She’ll outwit you every time.’
‘You make her sound like a cold-hearted bitch,’ Mary sneered. ‘I guess you know her really well.’
‘You’re right. I’ve learned exactly how ruthless she can be.’
Bemused, Elise regarded him.
A knowing look came into Mary’s eyes. She’d misunderstood, as he’d meant her to.
‘Got her claws into you too, has she?’ she demanded coarsely. ‘I know all about her. Ben told me how she chased him for his money, then did the dirty on him when they were married.’
‘That’s a lie!’ Elise burst out. ‘I never chased Ben. He came chasing after me, all the way to Rome-’
‘Just as you meant him to. You knew how to make him come grovelling. As for you-’ she pointed a finger at Vincente ‘-I’ll bet your wife doesn’t know you’re here.’
‘I have no wife,’ he retorted. ‘I’ve never been tempted into the married state and at times like this I’m deeply glad of it. Tell me, ladies, is there a woman in the world who sincerely regrets the man she’s put behind her-for one reason or another?’
Mary gave a contemptuous snort. ‘Had your fill of you, has she? And now she doesn’t care who she hurts. I don’t suppose she ever has.’
‘That’s true,’ he said softly. ‘You don’t know how true that is.’
‘So what are you doing here now? Think there’s something here for you? Haven’t you learned your lesson?’
Vincente shrugged and spoke with a sigh that Elise guessed was as false as his regretful manner. She had to hand it to him for a magnificent if dishonest performance.
‘There are some women who can affect a man like that,’ he mourned. ‘So that he forgets everything he knows about her and still lives in hope.’
‘But I’m not a man,’ Mary snapped. ‘I’m not giving up until I get what’s right.’
‘But this isn’t the way,’ he said smoothly. ‘Arm yourself with a DNA test and Mrs Carlton won’t be able to argue.’
‘Ah, but he’s dead,’ Mary said quickly. ‘It’s too late for a test.’
‘The hospital where he died will have blood samples,’ Elise pointed out. ‘They can be tested and then we’ll know for certain.’
Strangely, this prospect did not seem to ease Mary’s mind.
‘You don’t need a test,’ she said edgily. ‘Jerry’s Ben’s son, no doubt of it. We can sort something out between us, then I’ll go-’
‘You’ll go now if you know what’s good for you,’ Elise snapped.
‘I wasn’t born yesterday. If you’re still here in ten seconds-’
‘Are you threatening me?’
‘Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing,’ Elise flung at her in cold fury. She was possessed by the joy and satisfaction of losing her temper. It was glorious.
‘You’ll be hearing from my lawyer-’
‘Get out!’
Whether it was something she saw in Elise’s face, or whether it was Vincente urging her towards the door, Mary suddenly couldn’t get out fast enough.
‘I’ll be back,’ she threatened. ‘You may think you’ve got away with it-’
‘But she won’t,’ Vincente assured her. ‘There’s always justice in the end, however long the wait.’
He left the room with her and Elise could hear murmurs from the hall outside until he returned a few moments later.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked, startled by her flushed cheeks and flashing eyes.
‘Everything’s wonderful,’ she said firmly. ‘I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. She actually thought I’d just cave in.’
‘How very foolish of her,’ he said, amused.
‘Another minute and I’d have lost control and done something we’d both have regretted.’
‘Not you. You were always in control, that was why you were impressive. Pure steel. Admirable.’
‘Thank you. But don’t tell me she just calmly left.’
‘I’ve told her how to contact me,’ he said. ‘And gave her my best advice. She won’t trouble you for long.’
‘I suppose it’s always possible that her son is Ben’s,’ Elise observed, not sounding greatly interested.
‘No. Last year her husband was featured in a magazine-great financier, devoted family man, et cetera. There was a picture of him and his son, with a strong likeness between them. She was trying it on with you because she needs money. Forget her.’
Elise gave a soft choke of laughter. ‘You made her think you’re going to help her.’
‘It was the simplest way to get rid of her. Or are you so shocked at my methods that you won’t accept my help?’
‘No-oh, no-’
The laughter was welling up in her now, uncontrollable. She’d endured the strains and tensions of the day, but having them suddenly removed was a shock that left her unsteady.
‘Signora-?’ His voice was gentle but he raised it when she didn’t seem to hear him. ‘Signora!’
She managed to shut off the sound but her whole body still shook, though whether it was laughter or trembling he was no longer sure.
‘I’m all right-really,’ she managed to say.
‘You’re not. You’re far from all right. Come here.’
He spoke brusquely and jerked her suddenly against him, holding her, not tenderly but firmly like iron, so that her flesh received a message of safety that infused her whole self, reaching her heart, making her relax.
It was crazy, Elise thought. She didn’t know him but his grip had the power to steady her.
She ought to push him away, not stand tamely in his arms. But the strangest feeling was creeping over her, as though here and only here was comfort and all would be well while he held her.
When she spoke she could hear her voice shaking.
‘I’ll be all right when I’ve calmed down. Perhaps you should go now.’
‘No, I won’t leave you like this. You shouldn’t be alone. Sit down.’
He guided her to a chair and left her for a moment, returning with a glass which he held out.
‘Drink this.’
Another choke of laughter burst from her. ‘It’s champagne.’
‘It’s all I could find. They seem to have cleared everything else away.’
‘I can’t drink champagne at my husband’s funeral.’
‘Why not? You didn’t give a damn for him, did you?’
She looked up and found him watching her with an inscrutable expression.
‘No,’ she said after a moment. ‘I didn’t.’
Elise took the glass, drained it and held it out for a refill.
He obliged and watched her drink the second glass before saying, ‘Then I wonder why you’ve been crying so much.’
‘What do you mean? You haven’t seen me shed a tear today.’
‘Not today, no. But when you’re alone.’
It was true. In the depths of the night she’d wept her heart out, not for Ben, but for her desolate life, her ruined hopes, above all for the laughing young man who’d come and gone so many years ago. There was nothing of him now but aching memories.
It could all have been so different. If only-
Desperately she shut that idea off, as she’d done so often before.
But how had this man known?
‘It’s in your face,’ he said, answering her unspoken question.
‘You tried hard to conceal the truth, but make-up can only do so much.’
‘It fooled the others.’
‘But not me,’ he said softly.
At any other time she might have thought she heard a warning. Now there was only relief that he seemed to understand so much.
‘Drink up,’ Vincente said suddenly, ‘and I’ll take you out for a meal.’
His lordly assurance that she would follow his lead irritated her.
‘Thank you, but I’d rather stay here.’
‘No, you wouldn’t. You don’t want to be on your own in this empty place that’s much too big for you.’